healthy homemade dog treats for puppies
12 Healthy Homemade Dog Treats to Make Your Pup Happy
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If you have dogs, you know that theyre joyful members of the family. My dogs get extra treats on all the holidays. But not all dog treats are healthy for your dog, and some are tastier and healthier than others.
Different dogs like different flavors. One of my dogs loves carrots, while the other will only eat them if hes worried the other dog will steal them.
One of the best ways to have special treats for your pup is to make them. That way, the treat is catered to your dogs taste and health needs. Youll also avoid all the additives that store-bought dog treats can contain.
I love making cute, cut-out dog treats for our pets. The kids and I set aside a few cookie-making days at the end of the holiday baking. We always mix up a few batches of homemade dog treats.
Getting Started
Making healthy homemade dog treats from scratch is a lot easier than it sounds. There are a few basic recipes that you can alter depending on what you have on hand. The ingredients are simple and easy to find.
Most dog treats contain peanut butter, pumpkin, oats, water or broth, and some kind of flour. Many recipes add in extras like cheese, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
Apart from these basic ingredients, youll need a bowl and spoon, cookie sheets and baking parchment, a rolling pin, and cookie cutters. I like using a classic dog bone-shaped cookie cutter for basic homemade dog treats and more extravagant ones for special events.
You will want to ensure that all these tools and ingredients are clean and safe for your pet. Be aware that some brands of peanut butter contain artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which are toxic to your dog. Stick to a natural peanut butter that is unsweetened.
Peanut butter and pumpkin are some of the most popular flavor combinations, but mixing up basic homemade dog treats doesnt require anything fancy.
The Great Flour Debate
There is some controversy about wheat for dogs. Dogs can safely consume flour unless they have a grain or gluten sensitivity. I use whole wheat flour in all my dog treats, and my pups handle it well.
But for some people, it just seems safer to err on the side of caution and only use beans, peas, oats, or barley flour in their dog treats. If you want to go that route, thats totally fine.
Despite what people on both sides may say, theres no right or wrong decision here. Do what seems best for your pet and your budget. Some dogs may be more willing to try new things than others. If you have a picky dog, stick to familiar flavors.
Moderation is Important
I have to tell my dad this every time he visits. Hed give the dogs five treats a day if I let him. Remember that your dogs rely on you to moderate their diets.
In the wild, canines eat huge meals and digest slowly without eating for days. Your pup still has the instinct to over-eat whenever he can. But since hes also getting fed regularly, he doesnt need all the extra calories.
Dont overindulge your pet. One or two homemade dog treats a day is fine. Or, you can make tiny training treats and give him more of that smaller treat.
If youre baking larger treats but want to break them up to maintain portion sizes, try scoring them with a knife to make it easier to break them into bite-sized pieces. This is especially helpful if youve got tiny dogs or if your dog is overweight.
Storing Homemade Treats
Many plain, homemade dog treats can be stored in a jar on the counter easily. Or, re-use an old dog biscuit box. Some recipes call for a glaze or icing that is usually not as shelf-stable. Many of these treats should be stored in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.Moist, meaty dog treats should be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator or freezer. Unfrozen, they should be used within a month unless the recipe says they have a longer or shorter shelf life.
Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
There are so many homemade dog treats to choose from. I prefer these easy-to-store recipes, but there are so many options.
1. Basic Peanut Butter Pumpkin
This recipe from a Pinch of Yum is so easy, and all dogs love the flavor of these tasty treats. There is even an option for a bacon glaze to add extra flavor to these homemade treats. But remember, once you glaze them, they should be kept in the refrigerator.
2. The Easiest Dog Treats
This recipe from Puppy Leaks is simple and basic, with only 3-4 ingredients. I like to use broth instead of water to moisten this dough, but either way, my dogs love them.
This recipe produces simple, tasty treats that hold up well to rolling and cutting into shapes. I can even use some of my larger cookie cutters with this recipe.
3. Basic Beef Biscuit
This simple recipe by Kitchen Confidante made with beef broth is an excellent option for a higher-value treat for your dog. My dogs definitely think theyre getting food from the table.
Theyre easy-to-make homemade dog treats and perfect for beginners. But I promise, youre pups will think youre a pro!
4. Banana Biscuits
My son loves bananas, but he doesnt always eat the whole bunch before they transition from perfect to scary. And sometimes, Im not up for making more banana bread. Enter these homemade dog treats.
But these banana-peanut butter biscuits from It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken are an easy option for using up old bananas and treating the dogs to something fun.
5. Chicken and Beet Biscuits
These bright pink homemade dog treats from Three Little Ferns are delicious. Theyre fun and colorful, besides being full of vitamins and minerals. The color makes them perfect for Valentines Day and Christmas treats.
6. No Bake Dog Treats
No-bake homemade dog treats can be a great way to make a batch of dog treats for hot summer days. These simple refrigerator treats from Sunny Day Family are a great way to help your pups cool off in the hot weather. No-bake treats are an easy first project for kids as well.
7. No-Bake Pumpkin Treats
I love mixing up these frozen homemade dog treats from Communikait during the hottest summer days. They are so easy to make, with just two ingredients, and so cooling and refreshing to your pups in the summer.
Our dogs have heavy coats, and in the summer, they are panting in the heat. But these yogurty treats are perfect for cooling them off and boosting their nutrients.
8. Bacon Peanut Butter Treats
Dogs may love peanut butter, but they love bacon even more. If youre looking for a high-value training treat, bake up a big batch of these bacony treats from Sallys Baking Addiction.
I like to cut them into small shapes, and I have some fantastic vintage mini-cutters that are perfect for the job. But you can also use the scoring technique mentioned above to make your treats easy to break.
9. Chicken and Wild Rice Treats
These are a dog treats that are almost a mini meal. Nourishing chicken and nutrient-dense wild rice make up this truly decadent treat from Carries Experimental Kitchen.
If youre working within a budget, you can substitute more affordable brown rice for wild rice. These treats are so healthy and nutritious that I will sometimes use them as a replacement meal for my smaller dogs afternoon feeding, especially if Im training her.
10. Flea Prevention No-Bake Treats
Coconut oil and brewers yeast can help a dog naturally resist fleas. These treats from Nutrition Starts in the Kitchen add those flea-fighting ingredients together to create a simple, two-ingredient treat that dogs actually love.
I was surprised when I first made these treats for my dogs because neither ingredient seems particularly good on its own, but they really do eat them up.
11. Deep-Calm Dog Treats
Some dogs struggle with anxiety. Rescue dogs are often susceptible to stress and uncertainty, especially with new changes at home.
These restful treats from Nellie Bellie combine chamomile and lavender with dog-friendly flavors to create a restful, calming treat.
You can even add a small amount of liquid melatonin to this recipe, in extreme cases, to help a dog whose anxiety is becoming overwhelming. Remember to talk to your vet about appropriate dosing based on your dogs age and body weight.
12. Pretzel Treats
Pretzel dog treats from the Cookie Rookie dont even need cookie cutters to look cute. Simply mix up the apple and oat dough, roll it into little ropes, and fold your pretzels. These treats look especially good with a bit of egg, bacon, or another simple, dog-friendly glaze.
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Facebook PinterestCan Puppies Be Born Days Apart?
Watching a dog give birth is an exciting yet scary experience for any pet owner. If it is your first time, this is certainly going to blow your mind.
As soon as the dam goes into labor, you almost go into labor yourself.
You have to stay close to her and make sure shes able to give birth to all her puppies with no issue at all.
If she runs into problems, you should rise to the occasion and help or bring in the pros.
Among the many confusing things about whelping in dogs is how long apart puppies come out.
Most dogs have litters of more than two. Some carry as many as ten live puppies in them.
During birth, the puppies will exit one by one. Sometimes they take a few minutes before coming out but other times nothing seems to happen for days.
This is a real concern for experienced and novice pet parents alike.
So, Can Puppies Be Born Days Apart?
According to PetMD, puppies are born 45-60 minutes apart.
However, it is not unusual for the dam to take a long break of up to four hours between puppies. This is true if she has a big litter.
The birthing process is exhausting for the poor dog. Often, she will give birth to the first set of puppies pretty quickly before taking a long break to recharge.
Once she feels she can push some more, she will birth the remaining puppies.
It is thus safe to say that it takes anywhere from 45 minutes to four hours between birthing breaks. This means that puppies cannot be born days apart.
During birth, the dam loses the ability to support live puppies inside of her for a day. This is because the placenta, water sac, and other stuff used to support life in the uterus are interrupted. If a puppy stays in for a day or more, she may die.
Ideally, the entire birthing process should not go for more than 24 hours.
Anything beyond 24 hours should be an emergency case and the dam will require a C-section to get her puppies out.
If nothing is done, the poor puppies may not live to see another day.
If dead puppies remain in the uterus for too long, the dam may also lose her life to infections.
The Exception
Although most dogs give birth to littermates within 45 minutes to four hours, there are a few exceptions.
You have probably come across pet parents who claim that their dog gave birth to puppies 1-2 days apart.
A huge majority of the puppies were already dead by the time they were delivered simply because they couldnt survive without mums supply of nutrients and oxygen.
However, some people were shocked to find another live puppy one or two days after the dam started the delivery process.
The only way to explain this is that the placenta remained intact during whelping.
As a result, the dam could still supply oxygen and nutrients through the umbilical vessels of each puppy thereby keeping them sustained.
If the placenta comes loose and the pup remains in the uterus too long, it will certainly die.
However, if (for some miracle) the placenta isnt tampered with, puppies will survive a while longer.
Please note that this is a very rare exception and happens in a tiny percentage of dogs.
When to Worry
As soon as your dog enters into labor and delivers her first puppy, expect more deliveries every 45-60 minutes.
As said before, waiting for hours is common for dams with extremely large litters.
The process of pushing the little ones can be quite draining for the mom thus the long breaks.
If your pet goes for more than four hours and you are sure there are more puppies to be delivered, contact your vet.
Chances are that there are complications in the birthing process. Perhaps a puppy is stuck in the birth canal and the dam is unable to push it out.
This is especially true if the dam is straining for over thirty minutes with no pup coming out while her contractions are strong.
The whelping process from start to finish should take 12-24 hours only.
Through an ultrasound, you should be able to know how many puppies your dam is carrying.
When she starts to deliver them, take a headcount until shes done delivering and then ensure the placentas have dropped before you call it a day.
If anything goes amiss, dont wait. Call for help.
Parting Thoughts
There it is the answer to the question of whether puppies can be born days apart or not.
The truth is that birthing in canines takes a maximum of 24 hours and nothing more.
The time between giving birth to puppies shouldnt go beyond four hours.
Count yourself lucky if your dam gives birth to puppies days apart because that is not in the normal range.
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